... What Is A Veteran? (Marine Corp chaplain, Father Denis Edward O'Brian) Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them, a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in ... leg-or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity. Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can't tell a vet just by looking. What is a vet? A vet is the cop ... most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs. A vet is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more that the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known ...

... Honor Veteran Several years ago my father was killed in a tractor accident in Arkansas. He didn't have much experience on a tractor. He was a military man. He'd seen combat duty in World War II, Korea, and Viet Nam. For twenty-seven years he'd worn the uniform of his country and it was decorated ... Angels Of The Highway Honor Veteran Several years ago my father was killed in a tractor accident in Arkansas. He didn't have much experience on a tractor. He was a military man. He'd seen combat duty in World War II, Korea, and Viet Nam. For twenty-seven years he'd worn the uniform of his ... duty, honor, and sacrifice. And their kindness helped my family to deal with its grief over the loss of our Father. Editor: This Veterans day, and every day, lets never forget to give thanks for the many men and women who have served their country-at great cost to themselves-for ...

... my new wife. I was drawn to romantic stories like one from the time of Oliver Cromwell in England where a young soldier had been tried in military court and sentenced to death. He was to be shot at the" ringing of the curfew bell" His fiancée climbed up into the bell tower. Several hours ... to show my love to my new wife. I was drawn to romantic stories like one from the time of Oliver Cromwell in England where a young soldier had been tried in military court and sentenced to death. He was to be shot at the" ringing of the curfew bell" His fiancée climbed up into the ... . At curfew time, when only muted sounds came out of the bell tower, Cromwell demanded to know why the bell was not ringing. His soldiers went to investigate and found the young woman cut and bleeding from being knocked back and forth against the great bell. They brought her down, and, the story ...

... the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr, ... by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. These patriots signed, pledged their lives, ... captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships" blasted" to the bottom of the ocean by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move ...

... I Am A Soldier I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct. Faith, Prayer, and the Word are my weapons of Warfare. I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire. I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity. I will either retire in this ... or die in this Army; But, I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable. If my God needs, me, I am there. I am a soldier. I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up. I am a soldier. No one has to ...

... a subordinate nearby, he said," Private, do you have change for a dollar ?" Cheerfully, the man said," I think so-let me look"" That is no way to address your superior, soldier !" scolded the officer." Now, let's try it again. Private, do you have change for a dollar ?" The soldier snapped to attention, saluted and said," NO, SIR !" Weak leaders do all of the work themselves ... leave a trail. They are sure of their direction and they act boldly. Weak leaders keep others in their place. They remind them who is boss. Good leaders know that authority is more earned than granted. A young Army officer found that he did not have the correct change for a soft drink vending machine. Noticing a subordinate nearby, he said," Private, do you have change for a dollar ?" Cheerfully, the man said," I think so ...

... army of Israel and growls angrily." Send me a man who is your champion. Come, let us fight and I shall kill you like a mangy dog !" Fear sank deeper into the hearts & bodies of the Israeli soldiers. A huge shadow cast itself across the valley floor, it appeared ominous and foreboding. High on a ridge cresting the valley stood Goliath, Lord of Chaos and Destruction. He towered like a skyscraper against the sunlit sky, his frame blocking ... 15 feet tall, broad as a dump truck at the shoulders. His shield and sword is to heavy for men to handle, so they are drawn on a flat cart by a team of snorting horses. Goliath surveys the army of Israel and growls angrily." Send me a man who is your champion. Come, let us fight and I shall kill you like a mangy dog !" Fear sank deeper into the hearts & bodies of the Israeli soldiers. A huge ...

... . (31 USC, Section 5112 (D )( 1 )) Our Pledge of Allegiance cites" one nation under God" Both state legislatures and United States Congress employ paid chaplains to pray at the opening of all sessions. All military branches of the United States government have paid chaplains. The inscription on the Liberty Bell cites Leviticus 25: 10." And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall ... heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork" Psalms 19: 1 The Lincoln Memorial (Government property) has chiseled on it," Judgments of the Lord are righteous" The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is dedicated to a soldier" Known but to God" There is a prayer room in Congress. (Go tell your local school board you want the same thing that" our" Government has .a prayer room. Better yet, ask the ...

... RIGHT NOW. In the Spanish-American War, as the American soldiers were trying to capture San Juan Hill, they were thrown back again and again. The black powder ammunition they were using pinpointed their position for their enemies. As soldier after soldier toppled, the troops began to panic. Up rode Teddy Roosevelt, on a little horse named" Texas ," urging his men on. Encouraged by his bravery in exposing himself to the whizzing bullets, the troops began to cheer their ... at all" It's true: if you don't have time to do it right, when will you find time to do it over? Do it right. DO IT RIGHT NOW. In the Spanish-American War, as the American soldiers were trying to capture San Juan Hill, they were thrown back again and again. The black powder ammunition they were using pinpointed their position for their enemies. As soldier after soldier toppled, the troops began to panic. Up rode Teddy Roosevelt ...

... Arnold" is synonymous with" traitor" But he was actually a loyal citizen of what was to become the United States, a gallant soldier and a five-star general. Wounded twice in battle, he was highly respected for his military leadership. He even enjoyed the friendship of George Washington. But during the Revolutionary War, Arnold saw five subordinates promoted over him, and the blow to his esteem was more than he could manage. The injury to his pride was far greater ... Let Go Or Get Dragged The name" Benedict Arnold" is synonymous with" traitor" But he was actually a loyal citizen of what was to become the United States, a gallant soldier and a five-star general. Wounded twice in battle, he was highly respected for his military leadership. He even enjoyed the friendship of George Washington. But during the Revolutionary War, Arnold saw five subordinates promoted over him, and the blow to his esteem was more than he could ...

... " (Some older people don't drive, and those who do may not like to be behind the wheel after dark) Try it. And let me know the results. P.S. Special greetings to those of you in the military who wrote from remote corners of the world to tell me that you are using my prayer on this Thanksgiving Day. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!-LOVE, ABBY [Dear Abby-from 'Inspired Buffalo ' (InspiredBuffalo @lighthouse.net)] Inspirational ... . How's your health? Not so good? Well, thank God you've lived this long. A lot of people haven't. You're hurting? Thousands-maybe millions-are hurting even more. (Have you ever visited a veterans hospital? A rehabilitation clinic for crippled children ?) If you awakened this morning able to hear the birds sing, use your vocal cords to utter human sounds, walk to the breakfast table on two good legs, and read the newspaper with two ...

... down a passing private and asked him," Do you have change for a dollar ?" The private said cheerfully," I think so. Let me take a look" The officer drew himself up stiffly and said," Soldier, that is no way to address a superior. We'll start all over again. Do you have change for a dollar ?" The private came to attention, saluted smartly, and said," No, sir !" Each of us commands some ... Four Traits Of Effective Leaders A young officer in the Army discovered that he had no change when he tried to buy a soft drink from a vending machine. He flagged down a passing private and asked him," Do you have change for a dollar ?" The private said cheerfully," I think so. Let me take a look" The officer drew himself up stiffly and said," Soldier, that is no way to address a superior. We'll start all ...

... What We See A long time ago a baby was born to poor parents. His future looked bleak as he grew to see a life of dreariness and poverty before him. He joined the army as a common soldier and was wounded so severely that he never regained the use of his left arm. He later failed to find decent employment and, on two occasions, was sent to debtor's prison. He continued to have brushes with the law and struggled just to survive ... What We See A long time ago a baby was born to poor parents. His future looked bleak as he grew to see a life of dreariness and poverty before him. He joined the army as a common soldier and was wounded so severely that he never regained the use of his left arm. He later failed to find decent employment and, on two occasions, was sent to debtor's prison. He continued to have brushes with the law and struggled just to survive ...

... was swept away by an angry crowd into a Roman hall of justice. As He stood before Pilate, the governor of Judea, religious leaders accused Jesus of claiming to be the king of the Jews. The crowd demanded His death. Jesus was beaten, whipped, and sentenced to a public execution. On a hill outside of Jerusalem, He was crucified between two criminals. Brokenhearted friends and mocking enemies shared in His deathwatch. As the Sabbath neared, Roman soldiers were sent to finish the execution. To quicken death, they broke the legs of the two criminals. But when they came to Jesus they did not break His legs, because from experience they knew He was already dead. As a final precaution, however, they thrust a spear into His side. It would take more than resuscitation for Him to ever trouble them again. 2. A High Official Secured The Grave site The next day, religious leaders again met with Pilate ...

... world did you know that ?" asked Plumb." I packed your parachute ," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said," I guess it worked !" Plumb assured him," It sure did, If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today"" I couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man ," Plumb says." I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat, a bib in the back, and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, How are you? ' or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor. Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, ...

... you would be partially right. The me-first attitude is trickling down into the high school and junior high athletes. But in the midst of all of this is a young lady from Wisconsin. I first met Lisa Kincaid on the volleyball court as she played for a rival high school in the conference I coach in. Many times I was on the opposing sidelines and could only watch in awe at her athleticism. The speed of a cheetah, the mental toughness of veteran, and a 32 inch vertical jump! (Unheard of for a high school girl. And she was only a sophomore !) Starting her junior year, I was fortunate enough to coach Lisa on a USA Junior Olympic Volleyball team, and it was during these two years that my wife and I grew to love and respect her. If anyone had a right to be cocky or proud of herself it was Lisa. Besides being one of the best volleyball and basketball players in the ...

... to treat his wife like a thoroughbred, she will never turn into an old nag. On anniversaries, the wise husband always forgets the past-but never the present. A foolish husband says to his wife," Honey, you stick to the washin, ironin, cookin, and scrubbin. No wife of mine is gonna work" The bonds of matrimony are a good investment, only when the interest is kept up. Many girls like to marry a military man-he can cook, sew, and make beds, and is in good health, and he's already used to taking orders. Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age, and start bragging about it. The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for. Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know" why" I look this way. I've traveled a long way ...

... Window Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his room-mate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside. The man by the window said," it overlooks a park with a ...

... he cherishes everything about this time of the year. He takes so much happiness in putting our decorations up. He takes so much pleasure in our evening drives to look at the outdoor lights on other people ’ s houses. He takes so much delight in singing in the school choir ’ s Christmas show. He laughs and smiles though every Christmas movie we watch. He enjoys all the Christmas music in the air. He always shakes the hands of the Salvation Army bell ringers while I put cash in their kettles. He always enjoys the presents we get him too, but the present he gives us is far more precious. That present is seeing the way he lives with so much peace and happiness every single day of his life. He is the embodiment of the Christmas Spirit all year long. I am sure that God and all the angels must be smiling down as they watch this" special" son of mine. He lives the ...

... The Greatest Success Of All" Skipper, a special message just came in for you from the admiral ," the sailor said to his captain as he saluted." I have it right here"" Read it to me ," the captain ordered. The sailor read," You are without a doubt, the most conceited, self-absorbed, EGO-MANIAC ever to command a ship in the United States Navy" The skipper responded," Have that communication decoded at once !" For some people, it's all about them. For others, it's all about you. Like author Leil Lowndes says," There are two kinds of people in this life. Those who walk into a room and say, 'Well, here I am ' And those who walk in and say, 'Ahh, there you are" Which are you? Are you more focused on getting your own needs met, or on easing the burdens of others? Are you mostly trying to ...

... to know they're standing by" It's true. The difficulties of life are easier to manage with friends. In the book SHINDLER'S LEGACY, authors Elinor J. Brecher and Jill Freedman interview some of the people saved by the Nazi Oscar Schindler. One survivor says this about the sufferings of her life:" I survived Auschwitz and all the atrocities of the war. But the most difficult thing I ever had to face was losing my 39-year-old daughter to cancer" The army of modern medicine could not save her daughter. This woman went through the war and concentration camp experience WITH people; she suffered alongside of them. But she fought this other terrible battle alone. We are all survivors! In some way we have each encountered something potentially devastating, and we overcame. And the overcoming of it was easier with the companionship of others. Isn't it true that very few burdens are heavy if everyone lifts? And for some reason they seem lighter when ...

... To be made the evening before Easter You need: 1 cup whole pecans (or other nuts) 1 tsp. vinegar 3 egg whites pinch salt 1 cup sugar zipper baggie wooden spoon tape Bible Preheat oven to 300 degrees (important-don't wait 'til you're half done with the recipe !) Place nuts in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19: 1-3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19: 28-30. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10: 10-11. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into ...

... Fathers ' Day FATHERS ' DAY HISTORY Sonora Dodd, of Washington, first had the idea of a" father's day" She thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Sonora wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. Smart, who was a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife died while giving birth to their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state. After Sonora became an adult she realized the selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June ...

... about Easter" Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse. Phyllis made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a" religious nut". She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married three times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book. One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick. Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said," Phyllis, God ...

... . I found myself wondering if we'd ever fit in this city church of 220 members. That may not seem like many people, but my home congregation had a membership of 20-and that was on a good Sunday. I had also been among family. Homesick and hungry, I waited in line. As I got closer to the food, I noticed most people were getting food from one silver pot. Curious, I lifted the silver lid to find navy beans and memories of home. Surrounding the pan were little bowls of sweet onion (my mom's favorite ), homemade tomato relish (like my Granny made ), and wedges of cornbread (just like my mom had showed me how to make for my first 4-H project) But as I glanced down in that big pan, there was only a small amount of beans left. Did I dare do what I wanted and scrape the pan clean? Or should I be polite like my mom ...

... miles. Don't neglect your exercise. Watch your diet. Drink much water. Boycott burgers, Cokes and fries. Make the most of meals with family. Share your feelings. Make amends. View each day as priceless treasure. Count your blessings. Laugh with friends. Learn the art of saying" Sorry! While I'd love to I just can't" Try to just say no more often. Let it be your freedom chant. Guard your day-off like a soldier wearing sneakers, jeans and cap. Let yourself enjoy a hobby. Every Sunday take a nap. Even though it's not a cancer, stress can kill you just the same. So determine you will fight it. Make a stress-free life your aim.~Greg Asimakoupoulos~[ by: Greg Asimakoupoulos, Naperville, IL, 2005-from Peggie, 'Fun-N-Faith ' (www.peggiesplace.com)] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... Ideals Remember that ideals are like stars up in the sky, You can never really reach them, hanging in the heavens high. But like the mighty mariner who sailed the storm-tossed sea, And used the stars to chart his course with skill and certainty, You too can chart your course in life with high ideals and love, For high ideals are like the stars that light the sky above. You cannot ever reach them, but lift your heart up high And your life will be as shining as the stars up in the sky. [by: Helen Stiener Rice] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... meditation and prayer and looked for it deep within my own heart and soul. I could not find it anywhere. There was not a word, not a hint, and not even a feeling of it. Nowhere could I find a single drop of evidence that God is hate. I know that a lot of people out there must think that God is hate. The protestors that hold up the signs about how God hates us at the funerals of miners and soldiers must think so. The people who say that earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes are sent by God to punish us must think so. The terrorists who have killed thousands of innocent men, women, and children in their so called" holy war" must think so. As much as I tried, however, I couldn ’ t find one single thing that supported their view. I did find thousands of references to God ’ s love in book after book. I found ...

... at the sun setting over the hills, hum a happy song, read an uplifting passage from an inspiring book, smell a flower, listen to a bird sing, jump in a pile of Autumn leaves, share a kind word, think a positive thought, pray for someone, wave at a neighbor, laugh at a good joke, tell someone you love them, tickle a child, smell a baby ’ s hair, put some money in a Salvation Army kettle, touch a loved one, look them in the eye, and listen to them. Most of all you can take those 5 seconds to say," I love you God and I thank you for my life here" Have fun exercising your soul then. Five seconds may not seem like a long time, but it is long enough to share some love, spread some joy, change a life, and make Heaven smile.~Joseph J. Mazzella~[ ...

... Please Don't Wake Him Up A man was giving his testimony at one of those old Salvation Army open air street meetings. As he was testifying, a heckler in the crowd yelled," Why don't you shut up and sit down? You're just dreaming" Immediately that heckler felt a tug on his coat. He looked down to see a little girl, who said." Sir, may I speak to you? That man who is talking up there is my daddy. Daddy used to be a drunkard. He used to spend all of the money he made on whiskey. My mother was very sad and would cry most of the time." Sometimes when my daddy came home, he would hit my mother. I didn't have shoes or a nice dress to wear to school. Now look at my shoes. And see this pretty dress? My daddy bought these for me" But the little girl wasn't through with that heckler ...

... , so we are called to unceasing prayer" I've noticed that a lot of people believe in prayer, but they don't always believe in praying. For them, prayer is like a spare tire. They keep it in the trunk of their automobile and don't think about it most of the time. But it's there if they need it. When they have a flat tire they turn to the spare to get them through the emergency. It's a bit like the soldier in a foxhole: bombs were bursting all around and he prayed," Lord, I haven't bothered you in twenty years. Get me out of this alive and I promise not to bother you for another twenty !" He figured he'd use his spare tire about once every couple of decades or so. I've noticed, too that prayer for some other people is more like a road map. But it is not something tucked away in small compartment and rarely used. Instead, it ...

... Let The Past Be Past Is it difficult for you to forgive? To let the past be past? It is for me. Nearly impossible sometimes. I'm a little like the elderly Virginian woman who lived to see her beloved Richmond occupied by Union troops after the American Civil War. The matron was walking down a Richmond street when she tripped over a step and fell. A Union soldier courteously helped her up." How very kind of you, young man ," she said acidly." If there is a cool spot in hell, I hope you get it" Maybe it was still a bit early for her to let go of those deep-seated resentments. But angry and bitter lives are never happy lives. A beautiful legend tells of an African tribe that ritualizes forgiveness. When a tribe member acts irresponsibly or unjustly, he / she is taken to the center of the village. All work ceases and every man, woman ...

... (possibly delirious from lead-poisoning from the cans which preserved their food ), but soon succumbed to severe Arctic weather and died of exposure to its harsh winds and subfreezing temperatures. For the next twenty years, remains of the expedition were found all over the frozen landscape. Dillard reports that the crew did not prepare either for the cold or for the eventuality of the ships becoming ice-locked. On a voyage that was to last two to three years, they packed only their Navy-issue uniforms and the captain carried just a 12-day supply of coal for the auxiliary steam engines. The frozen body of an officer was eventually found, miles from the vessel, wearing his uniform of fine blue cloth, edged with silk braid, a blue greatcoat and a silk neckerchief – clothing which was noble and respectful, but wholly inadequate. Historians may doubt the wisdom of such an ill-prepared journey. But more important for us is the question: Are we, too, prepared for ...

... in his heart and mind the paradox of terrible storm and peace unspeakable and perfect" Lincoln demonstrated then and now how a person can possess both a will of iron and a heart of tenderness. Nothing deterred the president during the American Civil War from his" noble" cause, and few persons have ever endured more criticism and detractors than Lincoln. Yet he was no more a man of steel than one of velvet. When General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army, Lincoln sent an unexpected message to the enemy commander." Tell your men they may keep their horses; they'll need them for plowing ," said the president. Then this:" Tell your men they may keep their rifles; they'll need them for hunting" When Lee read those words he wept. For each of us there is a time for toughness and a time for tenderness. A time for resolve and a time for compassion. An iron will is not the same ...